Publications

IFC’s new study ‘Corridors for Shared Prosperity’ contributes to building a shared understanding of successful approaches and challenges in replication. It proposes a framework for systematic replication using examples of 11 Indian inclusive businesses that have been replicated across border. It analyzes the demand for inclusive business models in Africa in three high-impact focus sectors for transfer: agriculture, healthcare and renewable energy, and discusses key drivers of transfer of inclusive models from India to Africa. The study is a foundational effort to encourage systematic transfer of Indian inclusive business models, and to lay down a framework based on empirical evidence to guide such work.

IFC’s new study ‘Landscape of Inclusive Business Models of Healthcare in India' aims to inform the healthcare ecosystem of the opportunities in the health inclusive business space and suggestions for catalyzing growth of innovative business models in the health sector. While the innovative models have shown great potential, only a few have gone to scale and thereby maximized impact. The study analyzes the ecosystem in which they operate including regulatory issues, value chains, support services, as well as enterprise-level issues. This would enable stakeholders to gauge what is needed and examine what role they can play to improve the ecosystem.

IFC recently commissioned a series of studies to better understand the impact that adoption of efficient irrigation technology can have on smallholders’ farming practices and livelihoods. The studies also analyzed the main factors that enable the adoption of such technology, focusing in particular on assessing the financing solutions for smallholder investments in efficient irrigation. The highlights from these studies are presented in this brochure.

This IFC report summarizes the practical lessons that we can learn from IFC’s inclusive business clients. There are lessons for each phase of the value chain – including procurement, product development, distribution and retail, and marketing and sales. Each lesson is illustrated by a profile of an IFC client that is using that approach to reach the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) on a commercial basis.

IFC’s purpose is to create opportunities for people to escape poverty and improve their lives by developing more outlets for inclusive and sustainable growth. To ensure equitable access to healthcare, we are committed to supporting companies that are providing health services to the poor in commercially viable ways. To this end, IFC conducted a study on how to help the private sector expand access to health services to the base of the pyramid. The study examined Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Turkey—countries with significant health markets yet large underserved populations. Three health segments were analyzed: healthcare service provision, distribution of drugs and medical equipment, and medical technology.

Based on interviews with 14 founders and CEOs of IFC client companies, the report identifies a number of lessons on inclusive business, including the need to balance short-term returns with long-term goals and the importance of knowledge of local conditions, needs, and capabilities. The stories also reflect the overarching optimism these leaders share about the future of inclusive business.

This policy note analyzes survey answers from the G20 Challenge applicants on the regulatory obstacles they face in their businesses. It summarizes how public policy can support business models that include people at the base of the pyramid as producers or suppliers (focusing on agriculture) and as customers (focusing on affordable housing, health, education and basic financial services).

This new report includes a set of 31 case studies on IFC’s portfolio companies with inclusive business models. Together these companies are profitably providing goods, services, and livelihood opportunities to more than 100 million people at the base of the economic pyramid.

This report is intended to frame key issue areas that need to be addressed to move the field of inclusive business forward – toward greater scale and effectiveness – building on the considerable momentum that already exists.

This report provides a review of how a large corporation, Coca-Cola, can proactively engage in inclusive business approaches with the aim of achieving core business benefits - such as greater competitiveness, increased market share and improved risk management - while also contributing to the achievement of international development goals.

This report summarizes the findings of the fourth Business Linkages Series event which focused on the challenges and solutions of business linkages that enable access to markets at the base of the pyramid.

This report summarizes the findings of the third Business Linkages Series event, which focused on supply, distribution, and sales models that foster entrepreneurship and enterprise development among those currently living in conditions of poverty.

This publication is an example of IFC's ongoing commitment to sharing knowledge and good practices, and to partnering with key global players to address challenges and identify opportunities for linkages in developing countries.

This publication offers an important look at the market opportunity represented by four billion individuals who make up the base of the pyramid. The analysis provides several levels of quantitative assessment and characterization of base of the pyramid markets.